The Economic Forum Series® (EFS), Nairametrics, and DiGiComm Enterprises have announced the launch of the Annual MSME Finance Awards Program. This inaugural event aims to recognize and celebrate the innovation and impact of financial services and regulatory support programs that have significantly contributed to the growth of Micro, Small, and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs) across Nigeria and beyond.
The MSME Finance Awards were created to highlight the vital role that both financial and non-financial institutions, including non-state actors, play in improving MSMEs’ access to financing. The awards also focus on advancing the broader goals of financial inclusion, the role of FinTech, supportive government policies, legal frameworks, and capacity-building initiatives.
This new awards program is an extension of the Annual MSME & Start-ups Summit, which has been organized by The Economic Forum Series® since 2018. The awards will honor institutions that have made significant strides in supporting MSMEs through innovative financial products, services, and initiatives.
Award categories will include titles such as MSME Bank of the Year, Best in MSME Financial Inclusion, Best MSME Microfinance Bank, Best MSME FinTech Payment Platform, and MSME Insurance Company of the Year, among others.
The event is endorsed by Nigeria’s Office of the Vice President on MSMEs & Job Creation, with the Small and Medium Enterprise Development Agency of Nigeria (SMEDAN) serving as a key institutional partner.
Nairalytics, the research arm of Nairametrics Financial Advocates, independently handled the nomination and shortlisting process. The winners will be announced during an awards ceremony scheduled for September 27, 2024, at the Grand Banquet Hall of the Civic Centre in Lagos.
This event promises to be a milestone in recognizing and fostering the growth of MSMEs in Africa by highlighting the efforts of those who contribute to creating an enabling environment for these enterprises to thrive.
